Hi,
I don’t know how is Independence day down in your native country, but I know how 4th of July and Memorial day in the US. 4th of July and Israel Independence day are pretty similar – BBQ and fireworks. It isn’t so surprising, after all Israel is sometimes consider the 51 state of US 
.
But memorial day is pretty different from here and there. Here it is somehow much more deep and sad, or it is how I feel. But something I can deferentially say it is that here Memorial day and Independence day follow one another. I remember when I was child in that elementary school we had a kid asking the teacher why is this, why do they follow one another. This kid Aba died in one the wars (it cross my mind I don’t really this kid Aba story), and the teacher answered: “you know why it is”. I didn’t know back then and I don’t sure I know why now. According to Wikipedia the poplar idea is so people will remember that those who died, did it for our Independence.
But year after year I keep doubting this arrangement. Me among others are working only half a day in memorial day (unlike Holocaust day…), and if you are planning on going out, you do it pretty early… Somehow Independence day is taking slowly over memorial and it doesn’t feel right…
It was however our first camping with Jannaeus Changing diapers on the sand, sleeping with him in the tent, and keep him away from the sun – It is good and hope to do it more again 
. Except the fact that I felt like working all day long – bringing the equipment, building the camp, setting fire… I guess how it will be. This is how you have kid(s)…
Camping in Dor HaBonim Beach nature reserve in Independence day
Xuxa keep and eye on Jannaues
The annual air display
Take care
Gad
P.S.
I found the child Aba memorial page, like me he was in Engineering corps. He died during reserve service in Mount Hermon helping building the the cable car. There is a memorial sign inside the IDF post.